Billing code 93281: Pacemaker evaluationMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida

Report this service for an in-person programming evaluation of a multiple-lead pacemaker, including device analysis, review, and a professional report.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 20263 payment localities70.9K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $81.14–$87.08 for 93281 in the office in Florida, from Rest Of Florida to Miami. Which amount applies depends on the service address.

$81.14–$87.08Office (non-facility)
—Hospital or facility

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 93281 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 9 sections
  1. Rate in Florida
  2. What 93281 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. How it’s calculated
  5. Payment rules
  6. Similar codes
  7. Related codes
  8. Billing questions
  9. Sources

What 93281 covers

A clinician evaluates an implanted multiple-lead pacemaker in person using a device programmer. The work includes assessing device function and available diagnostic information, reviewing the programmed settings, and making iterative adjustments when needed. This code is commonly relevant to cardiology and electrophysiology practices managing patients with a multiple-lead pacing system, such as a biventricular pacemaker. The evaluation produces a report of the findings and any programming performed.

Select this code based on the implanted device’s lead configuration, not simply the patient’s diagnosis or the number of settings changed. Documentation should identify the pacemaker system and support the evaluation, including relevant findings and any adjustments. CMS treats the service as a diagnostic test: report modifier 26 for the professional interpretation, modifier TC for the technical work, or no component modifier for the global service. The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 93281 pays more and less in Florida

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

3 payment localities

$81.14 to $87.08

$81.14$84.11$87.08
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.
93281 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Fort Lauderdale$84.61Unavailable
Miami$87.08Unavailable
Rest Of Florida$81.14Unavailable

How the 93281 rate is calculated

Each of 93281’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 93281

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.83Practice expense 1.61Malpractice 0.04

2.4800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$82.83

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 93281

The CMS indicators that decide how 93281 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 93281

Pacemaker evaluation

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodXXXThe global surgery concept doesn’t apply.
Multiple procedures6Diagnostic cardiovascular reduction applies to the technical component.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical1Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 26 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

93281 without 26 · national office

$82.83

Pacemaker evaluation

93281-26 · Professional component

$40.75

Pays only the interpretation and report.

When to use modifier 26

93281 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

93281 vs 93280 vs 93284 vs 93288: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 93281
    Pacemaker evaluation · 0.83 wRVU
    $82.83
  • 93280
    Pacemaker programming check · 0.75 wRVU
    $78.49−$4.34
  • 93284
    Defibrillator evaluation · 1.22 wRVU
    $104.21+$21.38
  • 93288
    Pacemaker interrogation · 0.42 wRVU
    $55.45−$27.38

How to choose

93280Pacemaker programming check
93280 is for a dual-lead pacemaker system. Use 93281 when the implanted pacemaker has a multiple-lead configuration.
93284Defibrillator evaluation
93284 applies to programming evaluation of a multiple-lead implantable defibrillator. 93281 is for a multiple-lead pacemaker.
93288Pacemaker interrogation
93288 describes in-person pacemaker interrogation without the programming evaluation represented by 93281. Choose based on the service performed.

93281 billing questions

How does 93281 differ from 93280?

Choose 93281 for a multiple-lead pacemaker system and 93280 for a dual-lead system. Base the choice on the implanted system’s configuration.

Can 93281 be reported if no settings are changed?

The evaluation includes review and analysis of the device, with programming adjustments when needed. Document the assessment and findings even when settings remain unchanged.

Can the interrogation work be billed separately?

The device analysis, review, and report are part of the programming evaluation. Do not separately itemize the same evaluation work as a separate interrogation service.

When should modifier 26 or TC be used?

Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and modifier TC for the technical work involving equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.

Does the multiple procedure reduction affect the whole service?

The cardiovascular diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component. It does not apply to the professional component under the CMS facts for this code.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 93281PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 11,992 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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